The Easiest Mushrooms to Grow

Shiitake

• An ingredient in Asian cooking, smoke-flavored shiitake mushrooms (Lentinus edodes) have gained popularity in the United States. Shiitake mushrooms grow best on a hardwood log, but they will also grow in sterilized sawdust blocks. According to National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA), the best log woods include oak, birch, cottonwood and beech. The log should measure 4 to 6 inches in diameter and about 4 feet long. In the spring, inoculate the log by placing spawn in inch-deep holes. Soak the log in cold water for 24 hours in the fall. According to Mother Earth News, fruit should appear two to four days after soaking.

Oyster

• Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotis spp) have a milder flavor than shiitakes. According to ATTRA, oyster mushrooms are the easiest for a beginner to grow. You can grow oysters from a kit and inoculate wood with the remaining mycelium. Other acceptable substrates include sterilized rice or wheat straw, sawdust beds or agricultural waste. According to Mother Earth News, oysters which grow in straw or sawdust will eventually need a log or other vertical surface.

White Button

• Although white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) are not as easy to grow as oysters or shiitakes, you can grow them at home. Fill trays with compost and allow the compost to ferment for four to six days. In a well-ventilated area, plant the spawn 1 ½ inches deep. According to the University of Florida Extension, the trays should sit at 75 degrees F for two to three weeks, and then at 50 to 62 degrees F. If you keep the compost moist, you should see mushrooms in about three to four weeks; harvest after six to seven weeks.

Wine Cap

• Another gourmet mushroom gaining popularity is the delicate-flavored wine cap (Stropharia rugoso-annulata). According to Mother Earth News, wine cap mushrooms grow in many environments, including garden soil, compost,and wood chips. Grow wine caps from a kit during the winter, and then plant the mycelium outdoors as soon as the soil temperature reaches 50 to 60 degrees F.